Web accessibility has become a fundamental requirement to ensure that everyone, including users with disabilities, can navigate without barriers. WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the international standard developed by the W3C to ensure that websites and applications are usable by anyone, regardless of visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive limitations.
In this guide, we’ll delve into what WCAG 2.1 compliance is, what the accessibility levels are, who must comply with them, and how to check if your site is compliant with these rules.
What does WCAG 2.1 mean?
WCAG 2.1, introduced by the W3C in 2018, represents an evolution of WCAG 2.0 with a particular focus on usability from mobile devices and for people with cognitive disabilities.
WCAG 2.1 compliance means that a website meets a set of criteria that make it:
- Perceivable: Content must be easily distinguishable (alternative text for images, adequate color contrasts).
- Usable: Navigation must be simple, even using the keyboard.
- Understandable: Content and forms must be clear.
- Robust: The site must function properly with assistive technologies.
Who must comply with WCAG 2.1?
Not only public administration, but an increasing number of private companies must ensure the accessibility of their websites.
At the European level, Directive (EU) 2016/2102 (Web Accessibility Directive – WAD) establishes accessibility requirements for websites and mobile applications of public bodies in all Member States.
For e-commerce businesses and private companies providing digital services or products, Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act – EAA), effective June 28, 2025, extends the accessibility requirement to many digital services in the private sector (including e-commerce, banking, and telecommunications).
As a result, for companies falling under the EAA, accessibility is not only a legal requirement (with penalties for non-compliance), but also a crucial competitive advantage for inclusivity, customer growth, and improved SEO.
An accessible site:
- Increase user satisfaction.
- Reduces bounce rate.
- It can get better search engine rankings.
Differences between WCAG 2.0 and 2.1
Version 2.1 introduced 17 new success criteria, many of which are dedicated to mobile devices.
Some examples:
- Mobile responsiveness: Content that adapts to the screen without losing information.
- Multiple input support: touch, voice, keyboard and screen reader compatibility.
- Greater attention to cognitive disabilities: use clear and understandable language.
WCAG Compliance Levels (A, AA, AAA)
- Level A: minimum requirements.
- Level AA: Recommended and often legally required standard.
- Level AAA: The highest level of accessibility, recommended for government websites and public services.
How to Test for WCAG 2.1 Compliance
To check if a site complies with WCAG 2.1 standards you can use:
- Free automated tools: like our WCAG free accessibility checker.
Just enter your site’s URL and receive a summary report. - Professional automated tools: like our WCAG PRO accessibility checker. Simply enter your site’s URL and receive a detailed report of the crawled URL or, if you prefer, the entire Sitemap.
- Professional audits: Manual analysis performed by accessibility experts
guarantees comprehensive results and practical suggestions. - Browser extensions: Tools like WAVE or AXE DevTools can spot basic errors.
Looking for a more in-depth check? Check out our
WCAG 2.1 PRO checker, which offers detailed reports. This tool can be combined with hourly consulting packages for corrections.
WCAG 2.1 Compliance FAQ
What is WCAG 2.1 Compliance?
It is the respect of a series of rules established by the W3C to make a website usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.
Is it required by law?
For public administration, yes. For private companies, it’s not always mandatory, but it’s highly recommended to improve user experience and corporate reputation.
How much does it cost to make a website accessible?
It depends on the complexity of the site and the number of errors encountered. With our hourly packages, you can plan targeted interventions starting with a free analysis.
WCAG 2.1 compliance isn’t just a technical requirement, it’s a way to make the web more inclusive and welcoming. Want to find out if your site is accessible?
Try our free WCAG checker and discover PRO solutions to optimize accessibility.
